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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Golden Gophers’ running back David Cobb epitomizes the style Jerry Kill and his staff believes in: Run the football – hard.

The Gophers didn’t know who the starting running back would be coming into the season, but by the end of the season, it was clear. It was Cobb.

“I think the biggest thing for me was my coaches and the guys picking it up around me and wanting to see me do good,” Cobb said. “Coach Kill and my position coach and the offensive line, and just the offense as a group, never giving up on me and just always pushing me to do better.”

What Cobb wants to do is in line with what the Gophers want, which is running the football not with finesse but with purpose.

“That really just says who we are, you know. Pound it. Pound it for 4 or 5 (yards) and play action for 15 and then a big run. We like to control the ball,” Cobb said. “Run between the tackles and it’ll break.”

In this league and in this system, you have to want the ball. You also have to be ready to hit the other team.

“I mean, that’s just Big 10 style of play. Now, you go against big 300-pounders, 250-pound linebackers and big safeties that fill the box, so you’re definitely going to get contact if you have the ball or don’t have the ball,” Cobb said. “You have to like contact.”

Now, the Gophers are headed to the Texas Bowl Friday, which is only a couple hours from where Cobb grew up.

“It’ll mean a lot. Going back to last year, I didn’t really play a whole lot. I think guys are definitely excited to go back and play in the Bowl game again, because it’s definitely a blessing and an opportunity for us that most teams around the nation don’t get,” Cobb said.